Adjustable supporting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention is to provide an adjustable supporting apparatus. The adjustable supporting apparatus includes a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate, a first link, and a second link. The first mounting plate provides N guiding grooves. The second mounting plate provides M guided bosses, each of which corresponds to one of the guiding grooves and is limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding guiding groove. A first end of the first link is pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate, and a second end of the first link rotatably links to a third end of the second link. A fourth end of the second link is pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate. Thereby the second mounting plate together with an object mounted thereon is operable to move with respect to the first mounting plate mounted on a base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention relates to an adjustable supporting apparatus and, more particularly, to a supporting apparatus for adjustably supporting an object on a base.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the current scope of supporting apparatus for supporting objects, directly mounting an object on a supporting apparatus is quite common; i.e., the relative position of the object will not be changed unless it is being mounted again. If a position-adjusting function is required, an extra structure for adjusting the position of the object is needed. However, to use this kind of supporting apparatus, bigger space for installation and operation is also needed. Thus, it does not meet the request of effective usage of space, especially for the installation of a general household appliance, e.g. liquid crystal display, which needs a more compact apparatus to exhibit the product properties thereof and to make the usage of space flexible.

Accordingly, the primary scope of the invention is to provide an adjustable supporting apparatus. The supporting apparatus can arbitrarily adjust the position of the object in a proper range, and it is especially thin to save space and to beautify the spatial decoration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the invention provides a supporting apparatus for adjustably supporting an object on a base, and the supporting apparatus has a property of being thin, so as to save installation space and operation space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a supporting apparatus adjustably supports an object on a base. The supporting apparatus includes a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate, a first link, and a second link. The first mounting plate thereon provides N guiding grooves along an axial direction, which can be formed through the first mounting plate. The second mounting plate thereon provides M guided bosses, each of which corresponds to one of the guiding grooves and is limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding guiding groove. N and M are natural numbers. The first link has a first end, pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate, and a second end. The second link has a third end, rotatably linking to the second end of the first link, and a fourth end pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate.

In addition, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus further includes a first torsion spring, which has a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate and a second arm engaged to the first link. The supporting apparatus can include a second torsion spring, which has a third arm engaged to the first link and a fourth arm engaged to the second link, or the supporting apparatus can include a third torsion spring, which has a fifth arm engaged to the second link and a sixth arm engaged to the first plate. The torsion springs indirectly support the weight of the object, such that the links can be arbitrarily fixed as the position of the object is moved. The above torsion springs can be replaced with other resilient devices, so as to achieve the above efficacy.

Thereby, when the first mounting plate is mounted on the base, and the second mounting plate is mounted on the object, the object together with the second mounting plate is operable to move along the axial direction with respect to the first mounting plate mounted on the base. In particular, the position of the object can be arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction according to the movement.

According to the preferred embodiment, the first mounting plate can be alternatively mounted on the object, and the second mounting plate can be corresponsively mounted on the base; accordingly, the object together with the first mounting plate is operable to move along the axial direction with respect to the second mounting plate mounted on the base, and the position of the object can be arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction according to the movement.

Therefore, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it can save installation and operation space when using the supporting apparatus, and if the supporting apparatus is installed inside the object, it will be even more convenient and practical for installation.

The advantage and spirit of the invention may be further understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side perspective view of a supporting apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a blown-up view of the supporting apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the supporting apparatus installed in an object.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a supporting apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a supporting apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, FIG. 1A is a side perspective view of a supporting apparatus 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; it illustrates the supporting apparatus 1 adjustably supporting an object 3. FIG. 1B is a blown up view of the supporting apparatus 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, according to the first preferred embodiment, the supporting apparatus 1 adjustably supports the object 3 on a base 2. The supporting apparatus 1 includes a first mounting plate 12, a second mounting plate 14, a first link 16, and a second link 18. The first mounting plate 12 is mounted on the base 2 and provides two parallel guiding grooves 122 along an axial direction X; the guiding grooves 122 are formed through the first mounting plate 12. The second mounting plate 14 is mounted on the object 3 and provides four guided bosses 142. Every two of the four guided bosses 142 correspond to one of the guiding grooves 122, and the bosses 142 are limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding guiding groove 122. The first link 16 has a first end 162, pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate 14, and a second end 164. The second link 18 has a third end 182, rotatably linked to the second end 164 of the first link 16, and a fourth end 184 pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate 12.

In addition, according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus 1 further includes a first torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate 14 and a second arm engaged to the first link 16. The supporting apparatus 1 can include a second torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a third arm engaged to the first link 16 and a fourth arm engaged to the second link 18, or the supporting apparatus 1 can include a third torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a fifth arm engaged to the second link 18 and a sixth arm engaged to the first mounting plate 12. The torsion springs indirectly support the weight of the object 3 so that the links 14 and 16 can be arbitrarily fixed according to the position of the object 3. The above torsion springs can be replaced with other resilient devices to achieve the above efficacy.

Thereby, the object 3 together with the second mounting plate 14 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the first mounting plate 12 mounted on the base 2. In particular, the position of the object 3 is arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement.

Similarly, according to the first preferred embodiment, the first mounting plate 12 can be alternatively mounted on the object 3, and the second mounting plate 14 can be corresponsively mounted on the base 2; thereby the object 3 together with the first mounting plate 12 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the second mounting plate 14 mounted on the base 2, and the position of the object 3 can be arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement. If the supporting apparatus 1 is installed inside the object 3, it will save even more space in its installation, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a supporting apparatus 1 according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3 together with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus 1 adjustably supports an object 3 on a base 2. The supporting apparatus 1 includes a first mounting plate 12, a second mounting plate 14, a first link 16, and a second link 18. The first mounting plate 12 is mounted on the base 2 and provides two parallel guiding chases 124 along an axial direction X. The second mounting plate 14 is mounted on the object 3 and thereon provides two guided protrusions 144, each of which corresponds to one of the two guiding chases 124, respectively, and each of the guided protrusions 144 is limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding guiding chase 124. The first link 16 has a first end 162, pivotally engaged to the second plate 14, and a second end 164. The second link 18 has a third end 182, rotatably engaged to the second end 164 of the first link 16, and a fourth end 184 pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate 12.

In addition, according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus 1 further includes a first torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate 14 and a second arm engaged to the first link 16. The supporting apparatus 1 can include a second torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a third arm engaged to the first link 16 and a fourth arm engaged to the second link 18, or the supporting apparatus 1 can include a third torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a fifth arm engaged to the second link 18 and a sixth arm engaged to the first mounting plate 12. The torsion springs indirectly support the weight of the object 3 so that the links 14 and 16 can be arbitrarily fixed according to the position of the object 3. The above torsion springs can be replaced with other resilient devices to achieve the above efficacy.

Thereby, the object 3 together with the second mounting plate 14 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the first mounting plate 12 mounted on the base 2. In particular, the position of the object 3 is arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement.

Similarly, according to the second preferred embodiment, the first mounting plate 12 can be alternatively mounted on the object 3, and the second mounting plate 14 can be corresponsively mounted on the base 2; thereby the object 3 together with the first mounting plate 12 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the second mounting plate 14 mounted on the base 2, and the position of the object 3 can be arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a supporting apparatus 1 according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, according to the third preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus 1 adjustably supports an object 3 on a base 2. The supporting apparatus 1 includes a first mounting plate 12, a second mounting plate 14, a first link 16, and second link 18. The first mounting plate 12 is mounted on the base 2 and provides two parallel guiding chases 126 on the two edges of the first mounting plate along an axial direction X, and the openings of the guiding chases 126 face each other. The second mounting plate 14 is mounted on the object 3, and it is limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding opening of guiding chase 126. The first link 16 has a first end 162, pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate 14, and a second end 164. The second link 18 has a third end 182, rotatably engaged to the second end 164 of the first link 16, and a fourth end 184 pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate 12.

In addition, according to the third preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting apparatus 1 further includes a first torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate 14 and a second arm engaged to the first link 16. The supporting apparatus 1 can include a second torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a third arm engaged to the first link 16 and fourth arm engaged to the second link 18, or the supporting apparatus 1 can include a third torsion spring (not shown in FIGS.) which has a fifth arm engaged to the second link 18 and a sixth arm engaged to the first mounting plate 12. The torsion springs indirectly support the weight of the object 3 so that the links 14 and 16 can be arbitrarily fixed according to the position of the object 3. The above torsion springs can be replaced with other resilient devices to achieve the above efficacy.

Thereby, the object 3 together with the second mounting plate 14 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the first mounting plate 12 mounted on the base 2. In particular, the position of the object 3 is arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement.

Similarly, according to the third preferred embodiment, the first mounting plate 12 can be alternatively mounted on the object 3, and the second mounting plate 14 can be corresponsively mounted on the base 2; thereby the object 3 together with the first mounting plate 12 is operable to move along the axial direction X with respect to the second mounting plate 14 mounted on the base 2, and the position of the object 3 can be arbitrarily fixed along the axial direction X according to the movement.

In the above preferred embodiments, the first mounting plate 12 or the second mounting plate 14 can be mounted on the object 3 by screws or hangers. Similarly, the first mounting plate 12 or the second mounting plate 14 can be mounted on the base 2 by screws or in the way as shown in the FIGS. Furthermore, the base 2 can be a wall, and then the object 3 can be hung on the wall by hangers, or even be mounted on the wall by adhesives, which will be even more convenient and practical for the usage of the supporting apparatus 1. For example, the hanging support of a LCD panel is a common request and greatly represents the properties of the supporting apparatus 1 according to the invention.

With the recitations of the preferred embodiment above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. However, the scope of the invention is not restricted by the preferred embodiment disclosed above. The objective is that all alternative and equivalent arrangements are hopefully covered in the scope of the appended claims of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

1. An adjustable supporting apparatus, comprising: a first mounting plate providing N guiding grooves, N being a natural number; a second mounting plate providing M guided bosses, M being a natural number, each of the guided bosses corresponds to one of the guiding grooves and is limitedly and movably disposed in the corresponding guiding groove; a first link having a first end pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate and a second end; and a second link having a third end rotatably linking to the second end of the first link and a fourth end pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate; whereby the second mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the first mounting plate.
 2. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guiding grooves are parallel to each other along an axial direction so that the second mounting plate is operable to move along the axial direction with respect to the first mounting plate.
 3. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first torsion spring having a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate and a second arm engaged to the first link.
 4. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second torsion spring having a third arm engaged to the first link and a fourth arm engaged to the second link.
 5. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third torsion spring having a fifth arm engaged to the second link and a sixth arm engaged to the first mounting plate.
 6. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate is mounted on an object, and the second mounting plate is mounted on a base, whereby the object together with the first mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the second mounting plate mounted on the base.
 7. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second mounting plate is mounted on an object, and the first mounting plate is mounted on a base, whereby the object together with the second mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the first mounting plate mounted on the base.
 8. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guiding grooves on the first mounting plate are formed through the first mounting plate.
 9. An adjustable supporting apparatus, comprising: a first mounting plate providing at least one guiding chase; a second mounting plate, limitedly and movably disposed in the at least one guiding chase; a first link having a first end pivotally engaged to the second mounting plate and a second end; and a second link having a third end rotatably linking to the second end of first link and a fourth end pivotally engaged to the first mounting plate; whereby the second mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the first mounting plate.
 10. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second mounting plate provides at least one guided protrusion, each of which corresponds to one of the at least one guiding chase and is limitedly and movable disposed in the corresponding guiding chase.
 11. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first mounting plate provides two parallel guiding chases on two edges of the first mounting plate along an axial direction, each of the guiding chases has an opening, and the openings are opposite to each other.
 12. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the two edges of the second mounting plate are limitedly and movably disposed in the openings of the guiding chases.
 13. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a first torsion spring having a first arm engaged to the second mounting plate and a second arm engaged to the first link.
 14. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a second torsion spring having a third arm engaged to the first link and a fourth arm engaged to the second link.
 15. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a third torsion spring having a fifth arm engaged to the second link and a sixth arm engaged to the first mounting plate.
 16. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first mounting plate is mounted on an object, and the second mounting plate is mounted on a base, whereby the object together with the first mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the second mounting plate mounted on the base.
 17. The adjustable supporting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second mounting plate is mounted on an object, and the first mounting plate is mounted on a base, whereby the object together with the second mounting plate is operable to move with respect to the first mounting plate mounted on the base. 